“Well in the end, everybody starts with zeroes now going into the playoffs, but it can’t hurt having an advantage over a team in the regular season,” the Rangers’ special assistant told WFAN’s Boomer & Carton on Monday. “The year we won the (Stanley Cup), we had beaten the Devils six times during the regular season going into that playoff series. So we felt confident going in there.”

Messier says in order to win a playoff series, “you have to be playing well as a team and playing a system. And we do that very well.”

“I like our chances,” he said. “I like our advantage in goal. One of our biggest stars for our team all year has been our system.”

The Rangers begin their first-round series on Wednesday against the top-seeded Washington Capitals.

“We have had success against the Capitals,” said Messier. “I don’t know if you can take that into the series here. On the other hand, I think we have to feel good and confident going in with the year that we’ve had.”

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